Spring 2014 Ted Stevens Anchorage International Award Winning Airport! Winners of the prestigious Air Cargo Excellence Awards include Frankfurt Airport, Singapore Changi Airport, and Alaska’s Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. (ANC). The awards are signifi- cant and valued as they are determined by customers rating each airline and airport on specific crite- ria. John Parrott, airport manager at ANC says, “The airport has been recognized consistently with this award. We have shown that we are committed to working together with our cargo tenants to op- erate safely, efficiently and provide excellent service.” In addition, ANC has frequently won the Bal- chen/Post award for airfield maintenance and snow removal, even in the winter of 2011-2012, a year of record snowfall! Did you know ANC is: #2 in the US for landed weight of cargo aircraft (Memphis is #1) Among the top 5 airports in the world for cargo throughput Served nearly 5 million passengers in 2013 Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport has won numerous snow and ice control awards. The air- port has never closed for snow. Message From Deputy Commissioner Dillingham, New Stuyahok, Koliganek, and Nunapitchuk. Her eyes were opened to not only the FAA’s challenges in maintaining NAVAIDS and weather systems, but also the state’s design, environmental and construction challenges in preserving and improving our aviation system. These visits are invaluable in keeping headquarters offices informed on what aviation means to Alaska and our rural communities. As we look towards 2015 and the FAA reauthorization bill, continual engagement is essential to ensuring the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) remains fully funded and contract As spring creeps back into Alaska I applaud the tower operations continue. herculean efforts of our maintenance & operations I appreciated the opportunity to speak at the recent personnel in keeping our airports and highways open Alaska Air Carriers Association conference, and through an extremely challenging winter. Despite participate in a question and answer panel addressing numerous freeze-thaw cycles wreaking havoc on many of the aviation community’s concerns. It is runway surfaces, air carrier appreciation has important to take advantage of these opportunities to abounded, and speaks volumes to the customer hear first-hand from Alaska’s commercial air carriers service ADOT&PF provides every day. as we work together to provide a safe and efficient As the 28th Legislative Session continued, the aviation system. Congratulations to Joy Journeay and Governor’s Aviation Advisory Board convened in her team for another successful conference. Juneau in February, taking the opportunity to review We’re looking forward to the next big aviation event key bills being presented this session and to meet being held on May 3-4, 2014 - the Great Alaska face-to-face with legislators. ADOT&PF continues Aviation Gathering. This is the state’s largest to promote awareness of statewide aviation aviation trade show and draws thousands of aviation challenges, and I’m continually encouraged by the enthusiasts. ADOT&PF will have a booth at the widespread support among legislators and sister tradeshow, and we look forward to seeing you there. government agencies for one of our state’s critical Please stop by and say hello! lifelines - aviation. Finally, I’d like to extend a warm welcome to Judy I recently had the opportunity to meet with several Chapman and congratulate her on being selected as FAA and TSA directors in Washington D.C. and am the Division Operations Manager for Statewide encouraged by the direction our federal agencies are Aviation. She is highly respected across Alaska’s headed. The fiscal climate, and the need to gain aviation community for her planning expertise, and efficiencies nationwide, is pressing risk-based brings a wealth of rural aviation experience to the approaches to national security and aviation Statewide team. Welcome aboard Judy! challenges that directly benefit Alaska. Our local representatives continue to do a great job articulating Fly Safe, Alaska’s unique challenges and finding ways to say “yes”. The Alaska region FAA recently hosted John Binder Gisele Mohler, Executive Director for FAA Regions Deputy Commissioner and Center Operations, orchestrating a visit to ACRP Ambassador Program Rich Sewell from Statewide Aviation represents the FAA Alaska Region in the ACRP’s ambassador program, which strengthens the program’s connection to the airport industry. ACRP Ambassadors, are a dedicated group of volunteers, that engage with industry practitioners and stakeholders at conferences and events. They fill a vital role in getting ACRP’s research products into (L-R) Deputy Commissioner John Binder pre- the hands of those who most need them—industry sents a letter from Governor Parnell to retiring practitioners. Since 2012, the program’s FAA Alaska Regional Administrator Bob Lewis. Ambassadors have attended, exhibited, and (photo courtesy - Rob Stapleton/Alaskafoto presented on behalf of ACRP at dozens of conferences and events across the United States and FAA Administrator Retires After 49 Years! Canada. Ambassadors serve a two-year term and agree to After 49 years of service to the Federal Aviation represent ACRP at a minimum of 4-6 industry Administration, Robert “Bob” Lewis has retired. conferences or events over the course of the two- Bob joined the FAA in Anchorage in 1966 after year term. Ambassadors receive the training, serving a tour with the U.S. Army. He held a variety guidance, support, and materials they need to of management positions within the FAA before amplify ACRP's efforts to disseminate its solution- being appointed Regional Executive Manager in 1997 based research products. Click here for more and then Regional Administrator in December 2008. information on ACRP. In June 2008, he received the National Career Achievement Award from the FAA’s Office of Regions and Centers. TSA PreCheck Now Available at The State presented Bob with an Alaska flag that was Fairbanks International Airport flown over the capitol and a letter from Governor Parnell congratulating and thanking Bob for the many TSA PreCheck is now available at both Fairbanks and contributions he mas made to the aviation community in Alaska. Anchorage International Airports. Eligible participants are allowed to leave on their shoes, light Bob is a licensed private pilot and father of eight outerwear and belt, keep a laptop in its case, and 3-1-1 children. He plans to spend time with his many compliant liquids/gels in a carry-on in select screening grandchildren and fishing! lanes. Click here for more information - TSA PreCheck Governor’s Denali Peak Performance Awards Congratulations to all ninety-eight ADOT&PF employees for being nominated for the Governor’s Denali Peak Performance Awards. Each year this program recognizes state employees who go above and beyond and exceed expectations in their work. Included in this awesome group of employees are three rural airport managers, Bob Madden, Kevin Jones, and Matt Boron. Here’s a portion of their written nominations: Robert Madden - Nome Airport Manager Bob is responsible for the maintenance operations of the Nome Airport, as well as 9 surrounding rural airports. Bob has helped manage Western District’s 47 fulltime and seasonal airports, maintaining the highest standard with minimal staff, equipment, and extreme circumstances faced in remote Alaska. Bob has helped the state evolve in the airport industry, from the ongoing FAA changes, to the safety restrictions the newer aircraft have brought with them. Kevin Jones - Homer Airport Manager Kevin is the Homer Airport Manager which includes first re- sponder aircraft rescue and firefighting duties. He also assists with highway maintenance activities as well as directs state services in Seldovia, Port Graham and Nanwalek. Without exception Kevin represents the state in a very positive, profes- sional, and productive manner. He is respected by the public and the multitude of agencies he routinely interacts with. Matthew Boron - Haines Airport Maintenance Foreman Matthew is a dedicated, self-motivated, selfless, and knowl- edgeable man who embodies the ADOT&PF core values of integrity, excellence, and respect and does so every day. As the maintenance foreman in Haines, he supervises a crew of five heavy equipment operators and is responsible for 74 miles of highway as well as one airport. Depending on the season, you can find him plowing snow and ice off the Haines Highway or leading the roving crew from the South- east Region in the summers. Click here to read more about these nominees and others: Denali Peak Performance Awards Residents of Alaska’s rural communities who are not not are who communities rural Alaska’s of Residents Upcoming Events Southwest Alaska Transportation Plan The Alaska Department of Transportation and APRIL - 24 Aviation Advisory Board Meeting, Public Facilities is in the process of updating the DOT&PF Central Region Main Conference Southwest Alaska Transportation Plan. The plan Room, Anchorage identifies and prioritizes transportation needs for Southwest Alaska. APRIL - 26 Seaplane Safety Seminar 8:00a.m., The project area includes the Bristol Bay, Kodiak Tom Wardleigh Hangar/OAS. Contact Mary Island and Aleutians East Boroughs, as well as the O’Connor for more information (907) 271-1571 Dillingham census area and the Pribilof Islands. MAY 3-4 Great Alaska Aviation Gathering FedEx The process began in 2011 with fact-finding and